Pisoni East Eden Chardonnay
⏳ Drinking Window
2022 - 2028
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Pan-seared scallops, roasted chicken with cream sauce, creamy mushroom risotto
✨ Technical Specifications
Crafted by master sommelier turned winemaker Paul Lato, the 'East Eden' Chardonnay is a stunning tribute to one of California's most legendary winegrowing sites: the Pisoni Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands. The name itself pays homage to John Steinbeck's classic novel 'East of Eden', set in the nearby Salinas Valley. Sourced from a specific, cool-climate block of the rugged Pisoni estate, this wine benefits from the dramatic maritime influences of Monterey Bay, where morning fog and fierce afternoon winds preserve natural acidity while allowing the grapes to develop intense flavor complexity. Lato's minimal-intervention approach shines here; the wine is barrel-fermented using native yeasts and aged in select French oak barrels. The result is a Chardonnay of remarkable tension, balancing a rich, voluptuous texture with a spine of crystalline minerality and vibrant citrus notes, capturing the wild, untamed spirit of the Santa Lucia Highlands.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 2002 by Polish-born former Toronto sommelier Paul Lato, this boutique Central Coast winery emerged after early mentorship from Au Bon Climat's Jim Clendenen and encouragement from Bien Nacido's Bob Miller. Operating without estate acreage, Lato contracts premier, meticulously farmed plots across premier maritime-influenced cool-climate terroirs, spanning the Santa Maria Valley, Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Lucia Highlands, and Los Carneros. The viticultural philosophy focuses on rigorous yield restriction, physiological maturity, and sustainable management tailored block by block. In the cellar, Lato applies an intuitive, non-interventionist approach with small-lot fermentations, ambient yeast, and sensitive French oak aging to deliver exceptional textural tension, purity, and culinary balance. Celebrated white cuvées—including the Hyde Vineyard Goldberg Variations Chardonnay, Sierra Madre Kokoro Chardonnay, Le Bon Vivant, and O Sole Mio Sauvignon Blanc—stand alongside benchmark Pinot Noir and Syrah as some of California's most critically acclaimed, authentic, and seamless single-vineyard expressions.
🍇 Grapes
Chardonnay
🍷 ABV
14.1-14.5%